Chapter Fifty–Four
“Kiss me,” I said.
“...What...?”
After leaving home, I‘d headed straight to where I knew they would be. Somewhere I knew that I definitely shouldn‘t be.
But there was no hesitation as I‘d confidently walked up and knocked on their door. And when Cai had answered, I‘d ignored his confusion and demanded the one thing I knew could make me feel better.
Because if it felt anywhere near as good as the first time, then maybe it would be enough to make me forget for a moment that everything was falling to pieces around me.
“Kiss me,” I repeated.
His eyes were wide, stunned at my request, but he wasn‘t moving. I could see he was still in the same attire he‘d been in earlier; the formal clothes making his body somehow look even more fitted.
I quietly sighed impatiently whilst his head tried to comprehend exactly what was happening.
“Aria–.”
However, I didn‘t wait for him to finish his sentence. It wasn‘t words I wanted right now... it was him.
I walked up and pulled on the collar of his shirt until his face was within reach of my own.
“Please, Cai...,” I whispered, as I looked up slowly from his lips to his eyes.
He was so close now that it caused a shiver of anticipation to run through my body. I needed this, I needed him, and I could see in his eyes that he wanted me too. The tension between us was becoming so intense that it felt tangible. 1
The cold night breeze swept around us and it only made the warmth coming from him even more inviting. I loosened the hand I had hooked onto his shirt and ran it all the way along his chest, feeling him under m y touch, until it rested on his broad shoulder. I wanted him closer, his body still feeling too far away.
My heart jumped a little when I saw him finally lean in closer and place his hand on the side of my head, his thumb resting against my cheek tenderly. And instinctively, I closed my eyes as I moved towards him, preparing myself for what would happen next.
But instead of feeling him against my lips, I felt him shift away... and kiss my cheek instead.
“No,” he said quietly. “Not like this.”
I snapped my eyes open to look at him.
“No… no, please, I need this,” I said and grabbed onto him tighter. “Please, Cai... I want you.”
He closed his eyes and looked pained, almost as if he was internally having a battle within himself.
“Aria–”
“No, you said you wanted me,” I said, my voice becoming more frantic. “Why are you doing this now?”
“Because I honestly don‘t know if it‘s me you want right now, or if it‘s just you finding an outlet for your grief.”
I could feel as my cheeks began to burn in humiliation, my eyes tearing up, and instantly I dropped my
side as if he‘d just stung me. His words left me embarrassed and hurt over his rejection, and... angry. Angry that everyone was choosing to disappoint me today of all days.
Chaptei Hity Out
people saying that to me today. I‘m fine! This isn‘t about Мута.”
at me today and yet somehow you‘re now on my doorstep begging for me. Excuse me if I‘m a little sceptical of the sincerity here.”
do you even care? This is what you wanted, right? You just wanted to sleep with me?” I argued.” Well,
took a step away, creating a small distance between us. I couldn‘t help but flinch at his movement to get away from
Not... whoever the hell this is right now. And I honestly think that maybe, deep down, you do actually want me too... but the way you‘re acting right now just tells me that
“There‘s nothing wrong with
you can‘t even see it is
sighed, calming himself
back and let you use me because of the feelings I have for you. Because I do want you... and I honestly want nothing more than for you to tell
him he was wrong,
I‘m wrong and it‘s me you actually want. Or tell me that you want my
feel my heart racing as I tried to think... but ultimately shook my head. This wasn‘t the sort of on the spot decision I had expected to deal with when coming here. I wasn‘t ready for that
he said quietly.
deal with this right now. I… I need to go.”
changed to one of worry and I could feel he was about to chase after me, but I held up a
where are you
walking off into the night away from him. There was no point in staying any
you‘re going
I didn‘t stop. I kept walking. I kept walking not really knowing where I was going
to hold it in. I screamed out into
would act one way, had ended up doing the opposite when I‘d needed them most. I had needed Aleric to believe me, to take my side. I‘d needed my father to push for Thea‘s arrest, or at least confinement until it was safe to find more
out of my
Everything had been fine before she‘d shown up. Myra would still be alive and I wouldn‘t be fighting with Aleric and my father.
signs of the past
to do what needed to
Fuck it.
again, walking with purpose towards the one place I could get my hands on somethingt o inflict as much pain to someone as I was currently in.
do it slowly, piece by piece, with the silver blade she used to kill Myra. I
placed on me. It wasn‘t happy with my
and I began to crawl even as the pain got worse; I was determined to keep going no matter the cost. It was as
was too late
repeated the words I needed to tell myself; that I was marked by the Goddess, chosen, a Saintess, and no order should be able to contain me. If I wanted to go kill
at the restraints in my head, screaming against the unbearable pain it caused, until they finally broke off me like chains... and, instantly, I gasped
...I was free.
kept going until, finally, I came to the building where the evidence was kept locked up. The silver knife would be in there
felt like I was seeing it in a completely new light given how dark it already was outside. The entire place felt too empty and quiet but I
ahead. A room guarded by only one warrior named Ray. Unfortunately, I didn‘t know
flat voice, approaching him slowly to
he saw me enter. “Beta
me to pick something up. It‘s for the ongoing
necessarily a lie. It was definitely going to help
Chesterbrity Fou!
and probably realised that something wasn‘t right here.
Ma‘am. The evidence locker is kept shut until daylight hours. The warriors are Alpha ordered to stand
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